The Trail Blazers signed another 2.11-meter center, and the details of the contract were made public, and Yang Hansen s pressure followed!

As the Portland Trail Blazers training camp was in full swing, a new move by the team's management once again added fire to the already fierce inside competition in the team. According to the team's official news, they have officially signed with 2.11-meter-high center Andrew Carr from the University of Kentucky. Although follow-up reports pointed out that this contract is likely to be just an Exhibit-10 contract, which means that Carl will likely spend the new season in the Development League, this signing move has still caused a lot of speculation in the outside world. Why should we introduce a new inside line when the team already has many players such as Loway, Klingen and Yang Hansen at the center position? Does this operation mean that the coaching staff may not be completely satisfied with the performance of the inside players a few days before the training camp.

Let's first look at this new player Andrew Carl. He is a mobile insider with a modern basketball style, with five years of experience in NCAA Division I, and has played for the University of Delaware, Wake Forest University and the University of Kentucky, a traditional prestigious university. During his college career, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, and his shooting percentage reached a good 52.2%. What is particularly commendable is that as a big man who is 2.11 meters tall, he has certain outside shooting ability, and his three-point shooting percentage is 34.0% in his college career. During his time at Wake Forest University, his three-point shooting percentage is as high as 37.1%. Although the shooting feel affected by back spasms last season, a healthy Carl is undoubtedly a promising space-type No. 5 position. His technical characteristics also form an effective complement to other centers in the team.

It is precisely because Carl has this kind of mobile projection ability that can open up space that his joining has caused everyone to speculate that "the coaching team is dissatisfied with the existing insiders." Some fans even joked that the Trail Blazers are going to build a "Death Five Center" lineup? But no matter how much jokes are, what reflects behind it is concern about the situation of several young centers in the team, especially Yang Hansen. In a media interview a few days ago, Yang Hansen just admitted that he was still trying to "keep up with the team's rhythm", and his mobility and physical fitness are the biggest shortcomings that the outside world generally believe. Now that the team has signed a player in the same position who is famous for his "strong mobile ability", it is hard not to interpret it as a signal that the management is sending to the young people in the team: NBA competition is everywhere and no one has an absolutely solid position.

For Yang Hansen, Carl's arrival undoubtedly added a little more to the already huge pressure. From the focus of media attention, to the self-explanation that cannot keep up with the pace in the training camp, to the team signing new competitors at the same position, Yang Hansen's first week of the NBA can be said to have a solid experience of the cruelty of professional basketball. The enthusiasm and expectations of the outside world seem insignificant in the face of fierce competition day after day. Every day's training performance is the only criterion that determines whether he can gain a foothold. Andrew Carl's joining, like a catfish thrown into a pond, will further stimulate the competitive vitality of the inside group. For Yang Hansen, the real test of the Trail Blazers has just begun from now on.